Powers and duties of Indian Prime Minister

Hemant Singh

17-APR-2017 15:39

In the constitution of India, there are no special provisions specified to choose a Prime Minister of India. Article 75 of the Indian Constitution envisages that there will be a Prime Minister of India who shall be appointed by the President. Prime Minister is the leader of the Cabinet Ministers. The main executive powers of the government are vested in the Prime Minister while the President is the nominal head of the State. Therefore, The President is the head of the State whereas the Prime Minister is the head of the Government.

Following articles in the constitution of India explain the relation between President and Prime Minister of India:-

Article 74: To advice the President in various matters of national importance, there will be a Cabinet of Ministers which must be headed by the Prime Minister. President will take decisions based on the advice of Prime Ministers, however, he can ask for reconsideration of the decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers, though any such decision/advice after reconsideration are bound to be followed by him.

Article 75: The Prime Minister will be appointed by the President of India and other Ministers will also be appointed by him based on advice of the Prime Minister.

Ministers can enjoy their office till the wish and will of the President of India.

Cabinet of Ministers will be collectively responsible to the Parliament of India.

Duties of the Prime Minister:

1. To report all the works done by the Cabinet Ministers to the President of India.

2. To brief the President of India about any state of Emergency or any matter of foreign policy or urgent importance.

3. To inform the functioning of the Government and Union of India to the President.

While drafting the constitution of India, Dr. Ambedkar enumerated the role of the Prime Minister of India to be a functionary which can be compared to the President of United states.

Therefore, it can be said that in India, President is the nominal head while the Prime Minister is the executive head of the Government.

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